Light Bullets in Fast-Twist 22s
- Thread starter South Pender
- Start date
It'll work fine if the twist is 1:8 or tighter.
prairie lover
CGN Regular
- Location
- southern MB
ive gone as light as 50 gr bullets in 8 twist tikkas with excellent results.
rifleman762
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Alberta
I have a 1:7 22 Creedmoor, normally shooting an 88gr ELD-M. No problems with accuracy at higher velocity/RPM with lighter bullets (tried 50gr Speer #1029) but they do start blowing up. I actually had to run it with about 70% case fill of IMR 4198 to keep it under 3400 fps or 350,000 RPM where it blows up haha. Going much over 300k RPM is sketchy with most cup and core bullets. The Noslers might hold together better. Quick Load says my pressure is only around 38,000 psi. You can hit those velocities in a 223 case, too.
(BTW, even lighter loads of IMR 4198 are shown in the Lyman book for many cast lead loads so I don't think there's a risk of detonation).
A solid copper Barnes would be fine.
.
(BTW, even lighter loads of IMR 4198 are shown in the Lyman book for many cast lead loads so I don't think there's a risk of detonation).
A solid copper Barnes would be fine.
.Work up incrementally to watch for pressure signs. With a max load of 25gr of Varget you should be be around 2900 fps. I used to be a speed junkie but nowadays I try to find an accuracy load that is below the max. The minor loss in velocity outweighs the stress on on the action and short life of the cases. A higher BC bullet is more effective at long range than a bit more muzzle velocity all things considering IMHO.
Elpolliano
Member
- Location
- Surrey by the sea (nanaimo)
light bullets in a fast twist blow up real good
But only if combined with enough speed.
Not so fast... When you combine fast twist with speed, bullets can and do blow up in flight. Even heavy bullets do.
I remember running 115 Berger 6mms at 3000 FPS from a 1:8.5 twist and having them blow up on me during a match. After that Berger changed to a heavier jacket and offered the original bullet as a hunting round.
I can also remember running 40 grain Sierra hollow points out of a 1:7 and all I got on paper was pepper flakes.
The ideal speed from a terminal performance perspective is just under the ragged edge of self destruction, but you can get there even with heavy rounds in a 223. 69 Grain SMKs rock out of a 1:7 twist, but I have not yet shot an animal with anything heavier from a 223.
Last edited:
